Ashish Khatri (23) of Udaipur has received the prestigious “Meritorious Invention Award” under the category of Budding Innovator Award 2010 in a grand award ceremony held on 23 March at Bombay Exhibition Center at Goregaon Mumbai.

Ashish is globally acknowledged for his invention of making Banana Tree Peeling Machine which recycles the banana tree to make several important products and also helps in reducing Global Warming.

The award was given by Kenneth Viagem Marizane Mozambique’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, and Vilas Rao Deshmukh Cabinet Minister of Science and Technology.

The program – ‘NRDC Innovation Award 2011’ was organized by National Research Development Corporation under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Ashish Khatri is the one selected from the participants from 200 countries who have enrolled for the particular award. Representatives of nearly 500 companies have witnessed the award function.

Masters in Bio Technology, Ashish is working on the project since last 7 years, the idea cracked while he was studying in XI standard at Jawahar Jain School, Udaipur. “I saw a woman making flower wreath using thread made of banana tree, which inspired me to dig more on utility of waste banana tree” said Ashish in a telephonic conversation with UT.

After receiving assistance from DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) under the coordination of Dr. S.M Mathur, Ashish has expanded his research work and invented Banana Tree Peeling Machine.

With the help of Ashish’s invention, Handicraft, Silk Yarn and Paper can be produced by Banana Tree which has a bare minimum life. According to Ashish, banana farming is done in 130 countries and nearly 3.5 billion banana tree wastes are dumped every year.

“We can use banana tree by separating it in three parts mainly Upper, Middle and Inner part to make several useful things, this will also reduce 8-10 percent of global warming” said Ashish.

Honored by former president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in year 2006, Ashish has also received Maharana Raj Singh Award by Maharana Mewar Foundation for his achievements.